Improve Conditions at Ventura Youth Correctional Facility

The facilities at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility are unacceptable. I know because I've experienced them first hand.

I'm starting this petition with help from Books Not Bars because its important for those outside of prison to stand in solidarity with those of us who are locked away and too often forgotten. We are inside the Ventura Youth prison organizing to try and make our situation better.

We live our daily lives in unsanitary and unhealthy living conditions that include:

• Water fountains that do not drain and hold stagnant pools of dirty water. • Toilets that are broken, leaking, or frequently overflowing. • Filthy showers and bathrooms in our living units. • Lack of clean and fitting clothing for us. • Air vents that smell of sewage. • Walls and floors stained with the chemical agents sprayed on us.

The conditions are so bad that we feel desperate. Some youth here are so desperate they are trying to get transferred to adult prison. The only way to do this is to commit new crimes and try to get charged as an adult.

We ask that the California Division of Juvenile Justice take professional and immediate action on these real, unsanitary conditions. Many young people have brought these concerns to the Ventura facility staff, only to get responses such as, "I don't have to live here, why do I care?"

I was put in solitary confinement for covering a light in order to sleep. Once they took away everything in my room, including my socks, because I showered for too long. They even refused to let me go to church or have my bible. I've witnessed guards beating youth already handcuffed on the ground, saying things like "let me get some."

As youth in the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, we aren't asking for special treatment. We only seek to have our basic needs be met.

We're going public knowing we'll face retaliation unless enough people sign our petition to show prison officials that the public hasn't forgotten about us.

Please join our campaign in asking the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility to clean up its act!

Letter to

Ventura Youth Prison SuperintendentVictor Almager

Director, Division of Juvenile JusticeRachel Rios

I'm writing you today to ask that you improve the conditions of the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility.

Youth held at the facility have reported that living conditions are unsanitary and unhealthy. These conditions include:

• Water fountains that do not drain properly.• Toilets that are broken, leaking, or frequently overflowing. • Filthy showers and bathrooms in living units. • Lack of clean and fitting clothing.• Air vents that smell of sewage. • Walls and floors stained with the chemical agents sprayed on the youth.

I'm asking that the California Division of Juvenile Justice take professional and immediate action on these real, unsanitary conditions.

I would appreciate a response from you to let me know if you plan to address this concern.